Frame for refrigerator doors



JY 25, H933., K. J. DURANT Er Al.

FRAME FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS Filed oct. 2o, 1931 Patented July 25, 1933UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KENNETH DURANT AND CARL F. HILLDRING, 0FAKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN HARD RUBBER COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N.Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK Application led October 20, 1931.

This invention relates to the construction of frames for refrigeratordoors of the display or show case type, or to other refrigerator partssuch as lids, sashes or Stiles. The object of the invention is toprovide a sturdy non-warpingframe construction for such refrigeratorparts, which frame structure will afford the greatest possible degree ofsanitation, avoiding the cracks or joints usually found in suchstructures wherein moisture may penetrate and create warping of theframe structure, or afford a place for the lodgement of food particlesand the like which tend to create odors and which result in aninsanitary structure.

The objects of the invention are attained by utilizing a seamless,non-warpin moulded hard-rubber frame casing for t e frame structurewherein the formation of joints or cracks is avoided -and an entirelysanitary structure is provided. Such casing, in combination withassociated novel constructional features hereinafter described, producesa smooth, neat frame of clean-cut appearance and sturdiness.

The preferred embodiments of our invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of arefrigerator door or panel made in laccordance with this invention; Fig.2 is a sectional view on the line 2f-2 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a-sectional view on the line 3 3 ofFig. 1,'looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Fig. 4 is an enlargedsectional View` through the frame; and Fig. 5 is a front elevation,partly in section of a modiied structure.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive,6 indicates the frame casing which may be of anydesired shape to suitthe particular use to which it is to be put. In hereafter referring tosaid frame as a door frame, we Wish to be understood as meaning also,any fixed or movable frame structure .forming part of a refrigerator, ora lid for an ice cream cabinet or any similar structure.

The .frame casing shown at 6 consists of a moulded structure ofhard-rubber whih FRAME FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS Serial No. 569,934.

extends over and wholly encloses a Iiller or inner frame 7 that conformsto the shape of the casing and is preferably composed of solid wood,laminated wood, plywood, compressed wood, cork, fibre or other likestructure of non-warping characteristics. Three of the sides of theframe casing, namely the outer edge 8, and the inner and outer aces 9and 10, are of hard, impenetrable rubber, whereas the inner edge 11 ofthe frame, while preferably moulded as in integral portion of the framecasing, is of a softer texture of rubber and is readily penetrable bynails or similar .fastening elements. The longitudinal side edges of thehard rubber frame casing 6 are longitudinally grooved, as at 12, to tover and slide on rails on the refrigerator. These grooves 12, beingsuitably lubricated with a graphite compound or similar lubricant willpermit the door to slide easily with a minimum amount of friotion on therails without theuse of rollers or bearings.

The frame, thus composed of the inner laminated wood filler 7 and theouter moulded hard rubber casing 6, receives and holds several spacedglass panels or panes 13 and 14. These glass panels or panes are held inthe frame in spaced relationship to provide an air-space 15 between themto aid in providing the maximum of heat insulation. The edges of theglass panels 13 and 14 rest against the softer rubber wall 11 of theframe casing Vand said panels are held in place in the lframe by meansof strips 16 and 17. The-strip 16is a spacing member and holds the twoglass panels in their separated position and also acts to hold the outerglass panel 13 in the frame by holding it against a sloulder 18integrally formed on the frame casing 6. Said strip 16 is secured in-place by means of nails 19 or similar fastening elements, which aredriven through sai strip and through the penetrable rubber wall 11provided on the frame casing 6.

These nails readily penetrate the laminated wooden frame or filler 7 andare firmly anchored therein, although being readily manually removablefor the replacement of abroken glass panel.

Similarly, the strip 17 holds the inner glass panel 14 in place, thisstrip 17 being secured in position by nails 20 which penetrate the Wall11 and enter into the Wooden filler.

While it is herein stated that the inner Wooden frame or filler 7 may beshaped to conform to and wholly fill the inside of the hard-rubbercasing 6, it is alsopossible to provide a frame structure wherein such acontinuous reinforcement of the hard-rubber frame casing by the Woodenframe is un,

necessary. In such a case, it may be found desirable to provide spacedreinforcing blocks 21 located at intervals Within the hollow hard-rubberframe casing as disclosed in Fig. 5. It Will be there seen that themoulded hard-rubber casing is provided internally With numerous spacedblocks 2l which may be of laminated construction or solid Wood. It Will,of course, be linderstood that .the frame casing may be internallyreinforced by such laminated or other Wooden blocks Wherever required,either for the reception of the nails used in attaching the strips 17and 18, or to permit the secure fastening of a door handle, hinges, orthe like, on the'door.

The frame provided, being of seamless, non-warping construction, is verysturdy and provides a maximum of heat insulation atl a minimum ofconstruction cost.

While We have shown our improved frame used in conjunction with glasspanels, it will be understood that such a frame structure can Well formpart of a solid door having no glass panels. It is also possible toutilize some moldable substance other than hard rubber as an .outercovering, as will be clearly understood by those skilled in this art.

What We claim is 1. A frame for refrigerator doors and the like havinga-hollow frame-casino provided With several Walls composed ofj hardrubber and having a Wall of penetrable rubber, a penetrable fillerlocated Within the frame-casing and enclosed thereby, a panel held inthe frame-casing with its edge located adjacent to the penetrable Wall,a strip for holding said panel in position, said strip being secured inplace by a securing member passing through the strip and through thepenetrablewall of the framecasing and entering into the filler.

2. A frame for refrigerator doors and the like having a laminated Woodbase enclosed by a hardrubber covering, one of the Walls of saidcovering being softer than the other Walls thereof and being penetrableby -nails or like fastening elements, panels held in the frame, stripsfor holding said panels in place, and securing members for fasteningsaid strips in position, said securing members extending through thepenetrable wall of the covering and projecting into the laminated Woodbase.

3. AV frame portion for refrigerators consisting of a casing havingseveral of its walls composed of a molded material, said casing holdingpanels, a penetrable filler Within said casing, and a wall of moldedmaterial formed on said casing and penetrable by fastening elements,said wall being disposed about the edges of the panels.

4. A frame portion for refrigerators consisting of a casing receivingand holding spaced panels, sections of laminated Wood disposed Withinand confined by the casing, said casing having several of its Wallscomposed of hard-rubber and also having an inner Wall composed of asofter rubber penetrable to nails or similar fastening elements, andmeans for retaining the panels Within the frame comprising strips heldin space by nails passing through the strips and penetrating thepenetrable wall and entering into the laminated Wood sections. f

5. A frame for'refrigerators comprising a casing yfor receiving panels,said casing having several wall portions of moulded hard rubber andhaving a softer Wall ortion against which the edges of said pane s rest,

7. A frame for refrigerator doors hav-` ing a hollow hard-rubber casingrovided with one relatively soft and penetra le Wall,

and spaced sections of a penetrable filler located Within and enclosedby the casing. KENNETH J. DURANT. CARL F. HILLDRING.

